Even if it’s been decades since you’ve seen a chalkboard or an eraser, your classroom may still be more traditional than you think. Integrating technology into your teaching strategy can significantly increase student engagement, initiative, and innovation and boost your teaching methods in unexpected ways. A student-centered classroom enhanced or even transformed with technology promotes collaboration and helps students develop essential problem-solving skills for their future success.
Innovative Ways to Incorporate Technology into Your Teaching:
At NCCE (Northwest Council for Computer Education), we’ve compiled some innovative ways to incorporate technology into your teaching and enhance your students’ learning experience:
- Use Videos for Mini-Lessons: Integrate videos as stand-alone overviews or skill reviews. Be sure to check out The Achievery https://www.theachievery.com/en pairing content with over 500 entertaining videos and clips from popular movies and television shows with engaging learning activities aligned across seven academic subject áreas. The Achievery is ad-free and available at no cost to students, parents, and educators. Websites like TeacherTube offer educational videos covering core subjects, providing an engaging way to reinforce lessons.
- Coordinate Live Video Sessions: Use conferencing technology to bring subject matter experts into your classroom via platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. This will expose students to new ideas and perspectives, enriching their learning experience.
- Play Podcasts: Supplement lessons with relevant podcasts. These auditory resources can engage students and cater to auditory learners. Additionally, consider projects where students create their own podcasts, fostering creativity and communication skills. https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/25-great-learning-podcasts-for-the-classroom
- Build Confident Communicators: Allow students to build communication skills by using Microsoft Presenter Coach say goodbye to build presentations without purpose and get students building their skills. Check it out here.
- Share an Online Class Calendar: Keep students informed and organized with an online class calendar. Tools like Google Calendar can be shared with students and parents, outlining lessons and important dates.
- Use Virtual Manipulatives and Coding Experiences: Virtual manipulatives, available on websites like the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, offer interactive ways to teach and reinforce math concepts. These tools are especially engaging for hands-on learners. Additionally, concentrating on basic skills enables students to develop coding skills through simple experiences. Platforms like MakeCode offer pre-designed projects that allow students to shine and excel.
- Run Learning Stations: Set up stations with different digital media, such as videos, podcasts, and simulations. This method allows students to explore content in diverse ways, promoting deeper understanding. https://phet.colorado.edu/
- Provide Online Activities for Critical Thinking: Have stations with educational focused games like Minecraft Edu hosting a variety of experience that work to build soft skills and complement any curriculum https://education.minecraft.net/en-us/blog/cyber-safe-good-game and videos for students who learn best from creating and building. These activities keep students engaged and extend their learning and future ready skills.
- Study, Review, and Critique Web Pages: Use tools like Padlet or Figma to create interactive screenshots of web pages. Students can make notes and provide feedback directly on the page, transforming note-taking into an engaging activity.
- Gather Student Feedback: Use applications like Socrative, Microsoft and Google Forms, and Quizizz https://quizizz.com/ to create surveys and polls. Student feedback can offer valuable insights into their preferences, helping you refine your teaching methods.
- Cultivating Creative Creators: Engage students in building and communicating effectively for the future with collaborative designs, all completely free for educators and students. Start your classroom or school account here.
- Set Up Student Blogs: Use platforms like WordPress (for students 13+ years old) to host student blogs. Blogging can be a creative outlet for students, especially in language arts classes. Popular blog assignments include poems, essays, and diary entries from historical or fictional perspectives.
By integrating these tech-savvy strategies, you can create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that prepares students for a successful future. For more information and teacher resources, visit our website at NCCE or contact us today.